Even though I knew those words weren’t meant for me, I instinctively flinched, my fingertips trembling.
Then Edan, who had been keeping his gaze lowered, slowly lifted his eyelids and spoke in a voice so soft and gentle—completely different from just moments before—
as he lightly stroked the tips of my fingers.
“Go wash up, since you said you would.”
Having spoken quietly, soothingly, he released my hand and jerked his chin toward the bathroom.
“Well, then….”
I’m scared. Is my heart trying to kill me? It wasn’t even harsh swearing, yet in an instant, my heart sank like a stone.
I don’t even want to imagine what would happen if I became Edan’s enemy.
If he ever spoke to me like that, the sheer intimidation might make me faint on the spot.
Until just a moment ago… a tiny sliver of curiosity still lingered deep in a corner of my heart—about what had become of Hillstain Mathias. But now, I truly didn’t care anymore where Hillstain Mathias had been dragged off to or what they’d done to him.
‘You reap what you sow, you bastard! Whatever happened to you, cry and regret it!’
I know Edan didn’t protect me because he treasures me. He couldn’t possibly feel affection for anyone except Ivy Violet.
Imagining Hillstain Mathias crumpled like a wadded-up piece of paper, I quickly turned around and ran toward my original destination.
Somehow, I felt that if I stayed facing Edan even a moment longer, he’d uncover my new escape plan.
My heart kept pounding noisily, thudding in my chest.
[This is the timeline separator]‘Now I feel like I can finally breathe!’
Washing away the sticky blood cleared my tangled thoughts and lifted my mood a little.
I returned to my room, changed into pajamas, and slowly inspected the wound on my wrist.
Scratches from Hillstain Mathias’s fingernails were visible on the inner side of my wrist.
Should I say it’s lucky my bones didn’t break?… These Gifted truly are monsters. It’s astonishing enough that such deep blue bruises formed so easily on my wrist—now they were gradually turning violet, as if I’d been tied up with ropes for hours and then released.
I bit down hard on my lower lip.
‘I never, ever want to go through that again.’
After changing clothes, I unwrapped the towel from my head, and water dripped steadily from my long hair.
My left hand—the one Hillstain Mathias had grabbed—was completely numb. After several failed attempts to wring out the water using only my right hand, I gave up and pressed the towel firmly against my long hair.
In the mirror, I saw the hair Ivy Violet used to love—and suddenly, Hillstain Mathias’s words, which I’d carelessly brushed off earlier, floated back into my mind.
‘…What do you gain by doing this?’
‘To possess Lady Ivy Violet.’
It’s strange. Taken literally, it means Ivy Violet offered herself as a condition to have me brought back.
Does she really want me that badly? What on earth are you thinking, Ivy Violet? Honestly, all I could do was sigh.
I don’t want Edan to go mad.
But I, whose healing ability isn’t strong, can’t keep bearing responsibility for Edan’s healing forever.
‘I can’t keep risking my life every time to save Edan.’
Ultimately, Edan helped me today against Ivy Violet, but as time passes, he’ll inevitably need the High Priestess’s healing power again…
And once he’s captivated by Ivy Violet’s healing, he’ll hand me over to her without hesitation.
The thought made a corner of my heart sting.
Edan doesn’t remember, but I saved his life once too.
If this plan fails, maybe I’ll use that as leverage to beg him for help.
When backed into a corner, all sorts of desperate thoughts start flooding in.
After roughly drying my dripping hair, I stood up to go downstairs to find medicine and bandages. I should treat this at least a little—Jenald Johan might panic if he sees it.
But the moment I stepped toward the door, I heard a knock.
“It’s me. Open the door.”
Startled, I took a deep breath and cracked the door open—only to see Edan standing there, his uniform jacket removed, wearing a crisp white shirt and a neatly tied cravat. Somehow, he’d washed his hair again; it was damp and carried the clean scent of soap.
“What is it?”
“Let me treat your injury. I’m coming in.”
“What? No! Wait!”
I desperately clung to the door to block Edan, who was barging in without warning.
Of course, I couldn’t possibly stop him—but Edan obediently halted.
“What?”
“I—I can do it myself.”
“According to whose will?”
“…Huh?”
Well… obviously, according to mine. But I couldn’t say anything more—I just stumbled backward.
Because Edan abruptly stuck his foot forward and shoved the door open without mercy.
Holding several medicines in one hand, Edan stepped into the room without hesitation.
“I told you—I’ll apply the ointment.”
“….”
“I’ll do it. Personally.”
“….”
Edan tilted his chin arrogantly, radiating a threatening aura—as if daring me to refuse him one more time.
Fine, you lunatic. Why are you threatening me when you’re the one offering to help? Ugh.
Helplessly, I nodded.
“At least… do it while I’m standing.”
“What?”
Edan, who had smoothly turned toward the bedside table after finishing his declaration, froze mid-step.
His gaze, as he turned back to me, was icy.
“My… my hair isn’t fully dry yet. I don’t want water dripping onto the bed.”
Edan’s handsome brow furrowed in disbelief.
Moonlight streaming through the window shimmered, tracing Edan’s silhouette as it fell upon him.
Maybe because his hair was still damp—he seemed to glow even more brilliantly tonight.
Honestly, I think it’s cheating—the way Edan’s bright blond hair blends with the moonlight.
His face alone was already unfair, but nighttime Edan shines more beautifully than any star—he looks like a flawless statue sculpted by the gods themselves.
But that’s exactly why I need to be even more cautious.
If I let him treat me on the bed, who knows what strange thing might happen again like last time? I don’t want to do anything else that’ll make Jenald Johan feel guilty—even if it’s not by my own will.
“Since when did you become so picky?”
Thud. Edan placed the bandages, medicine bottles, and scissors onto the bedside table.
Then, opening a bottle, he approached me and without hesitation grabbed my bruised wrist, lifting it up.
“Is it because you’re a princess?”
His teasing, mocking tone made my prickly, hedgehog-like defenses crumble just a little.
“About that…”
“What. Princess.”
“….”
Ughhh! My hands and feet curled up—I felt my insides twisting! I wanted to slap my past self.
If I could go back in time, I’d scream at Edan: “You have no shame or embarrassment—just be satisfied with breakfast!”
“I’ll change it to something else.”
I was looking at Edan’s face, but his gaze remained fixed on my wrist.
Holding my wrist with one hand, he dipped his fingers into the ointment with the other and began gently rubbing it onto my skin.
When I flinched slightly from the sudden pressure, he paused, softened his grip, and continued more loosely than before.
“Didn’t I tell you not to regret it?”
“…I did.”
At my quick, unhesitating admission, Edan’s lips—previously spreading the ointment expressionlessly—curved upward slightly, amused.
“The book.”
Setting the medicine bottle down and picking up the bandages, Edan slowly turned his gaze toward me.
Then he lowered his eyes again, focusing on my wrist, and asked:
“Did you read it?”
Why is the conversation suddenly jumping there? Why ask me that now?
“Are you talking about the wish token? You’re not planning to write it down here, are you?”
“Oh? Where would you write it, then?”
Edan’s mood seemed to relax slightly.
As if he’d grant any request I made right now.
“If I say it, will you grant it?”
“Hmm. Only if you read the book.”
“I did! I can even summarize the plot!”
“Then go ahead. Your wish.”
Edan, seemingly focused on wrapping the bandage, gave a slight nod.
“Send me to the capital.”
“The capital?”
“Yes.”
“Why there?”
They say you shouldn’t spit on a smiling face—seizing the moment, I beamed brightly at Edan, hoping to win him over.
“It’s Jenald Johan’s birthday. I want to go congratulate him.”
At that moment, Edan stopped wrapping the bandage entirely.
“…So.”
“…?”
“That means.”
Muttering to himself, Edan swiftly cut the bandage and tossed the scissors onto the table without mercy.
Then, slowly, wearing a look of utter disbelief, he began stepping toward me.
No. Why is he acting like this again?
“Um…”
Like a hunter closing in on trapped prey, Edan pushed me back until my back hit the wall—I had nowhere left to retreat.
I stared up at him in confusion, unable to understand what nerve I’d struck this time. Then Edan smoothly traced his lips into a curve, raised his muscular, vein-lined arm, and braced it against the wall behind me.
With his other hand, he grasped my chin, lifting my face so I had to look directly into his eyes.
It was slightly forceful—but not painful. Even as he acted selfishly, I could feel he was carefully modulating his strength to consider me.
“Master, could you step back a bit…?”
But I still couldn’t move my body freely.
The distance between us was too close—I tried pushing against his chest to create space, but Edan stood immovable, like a massive boulder.
“You want to use the wish token I gave you… to go congratulate another man on his birthday?”
His voice dripped with irritation.
“Our princess has grown quite brave lately.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“You think I gave you that wish token to waste it on something like that?”
What? What does that even mean, you lunatic? Isn’t a wish token supposed to be used however I want?
Too stunned to respond, I trembled-eyed, lips quivering, and swallowed hard.
“Then where should I use it? The wish token is for whatever I want—”
“Latieana.”
“Yes?”
“….”
What? Say something!
Silently, Edan released my chin. In that instant, I tried to twist away from his embrace—but he immediately seized my wrist again.
It hurt so much I felt real tears welling up. I gritted my teeth and endured with all my strength.
“Relax.”
“I—I won’t.”
“You know struggling won’t change anything. You’ll break it.”
I knew—but if I relaxed, he’d just pull me closer.
Biting my lower lip unconsciously with that thought,
Edan let go of my wrist and instead wrapped his arm around my waist, yanking me firmly toward him.
“Kyaa!”
Before I could properly resist, my forehead collided with his broad, solid chest.
“You’re cute, but stop squirming.”
As if concerned about my bumped head, Edan’s large hand patted my hair gently.
And then—
“Because I feel like pinning you down.”
He muttered something insane.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
